Number of Service Stations
Muddle Exxon-Mobil Merger

The fate of the people who run Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp. service stations has become a point of contention -- and an emotional issue -- in the $80 billion merger of the oil giants.

According to people familiar with the talks, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission wants the combined Exxon Mobil to sell more than 1,700 gasoline stations in Northeastern, mid-Atlantic and West Coast states to major companies so that consumers will be sure...